quick



(NQO Model.)

- I Y 4 Sheets-Sheet 1. G. QUICK. LOCK FOR BREECH LOADING ORDNANCE. No. 324,272. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

T oams PETERS 00., wowo-umd, WASHINGYON, n. c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

. G QUICK LOOK FOR BREEGH LOADING ORDNANGE.

No. 324,272. .Patent ed Aug. 11, 1885.

(No Model.)

G. QUICK.

LOOK FOR BREEGH LOADING ORDNANOE. Nb. 324,272. PatentedAAug. 11, 1885.

F710 3 D Q) Ira/5222 02: a M v PETERS co, mOIO-LITNQ. WASHINGYON, u c.

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4."

G. QUICK.

LOOK FOR BREBGH LOADING ORDNANGE. No. 324.272. Patented Aug. 11, 1885.

W22 i; asses.- [7276725 021- UNITED STAT S- PATENT OFFICE,

Gnome QUICK, or (nil-PIPING: )AMPDEN, COUNTY or ctoutiucs'lnii,

ENGLAND.

LOCK FOR BREECH-LOADING OR DN ANCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part Letters Patent as. 324(272, dated August 11", 1885.

Application tiled Jllnell, 1 8-]. (.\'u model.) I Patented in 'l'luglnndJanuary10,1384, N0. l,ll:'i: in Germany March :3, I e-l, No. Ill '1 in France April 2S, IsS-i, No. 161,774;

in Belgium May 2|,

XXXH], 39-1.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GEORGE QUicK, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at ChippingCai'npden, in the county of Glouces- 5 ter', Englaml, have invented new and useful- Ihrprovements in Ordnance, of which the following is a specification.

Myinvention relates to improvements in the mechanism described in my former putcut, Breech-Loading Ordnance, No.258,116,

dated May 16, 1882.

The objects of these improvements are to obtain a greater amount of strength in the breech of the gun, greater facility for firing,

, better obturation, and to-provideasimple arrangement for working the breech mechanism by flmdressure,-and an improved friction- {primer for igniting the charges. A greater amount of strength in the breech of the gun is 2 obtained, first, by forming the end of the sliding carriage, which acts as a guide for the insert1o'n. ot the charge into the gun, of a reduced size, so that a smaller amount ofthe metal of v the gun has to be cut away to-fo'rm the receptaclenof the said sliding carriage; secondly,

by fitting the said sliding carriage with projecting lugs or keys on the upper and lower sides of its rear part fitting into corresponding recesses in the rear part of the carriageway in the gun so as to tie these parts togethcr, and thus help to resist any tendency there may be when the gun is fired to open the rear part of the said carriage-way.

I modify the construction of the sliding carriage by fitting it into the carriage-way with grooves in both the sliding carriage and the gun corresponding with each other,and fitting in the said grooves steel keys to help to resist the backward strain of the gas-pressure, by

which means the perfect fitting of the surfaces of the said keys in the grooves is more 1884, N0. '65,:20, and in Italy June 30, lfi-l, XVill,

ing the chamber of the gun; secondly, the prevention of the firing '01? the charge until the breeehscrew is completely screwed up; thirdly, the aul'onrttic opening of the vent and the extraction of the exploded primer by the single movement of the breech-screw lever when opening the powder-chamber for the gun to be loaded; fourthl'y, in case of misfirc, to permitthefiriug-primer to be extracted from the vent without difiiculty or necessity for opening the breech of the gun or moving thebreech-screw lever. These objects are effected as follows:

The firing apparatus consists of a vent passing through the axisof the breech screw,with an enlarged chamber at the rear end of the vent adapted to receive a firing-primer in the ordinary manner, but the rear end of the breech-screw is prolonged a short distance beyond the breech-screw lever, and in this prolongation I form a slot or guide with grooves in which a vent-shutter is adapted to slide easily to and fro directly in rear of the enlarged chamber of the vent. The other end of the vent-shutter slides 011 the rear face of one end of the breech'screw lever, to which it is freely secured by one or more pins passing through an elongated slot in the said lever. One of these pins projects through the forward side of thelever and engagcsin a curved guide secured to the .rear face ol' the breech of the gun, part of which guide is eccentric to the center of the said breech-screw, so that as the breeclrscrew is turned through one part of its travel the vent-shutter is caused 10 move to or from the center of the breechscrew, and thus to automatically cover or uncover the firing-primer in the vent. ()n the forward side of the sliding shutter is a projecting toe-piece or catch which operates on a primcr-extractor,which extractor is hinged to the breeclrsorew directly over the chamber of the firing-primer, so that on the vent shutter uncovering the vent the toe-piece actuates the cxtraetor,which ejects the firing-primer. The vent'shutter may be adapted to use frictionprimers, electric fuses, or percussionprimers, but in this application I restrict myself to the construction described for! he friction'primers.

hen friction-primers are to be used, T. form that end of the shutter which covers the primer with a narrow slot, so. as to pass easily on each side of the friction-pin in the center of the primer. The end of the slot,which-is directly in linewith the friction-pin of the primer when the breech of the gun is perfectly closed, 1 enlarge somewhat, andon the frietion-pin of the primer, close to the base of the said primer, I form a small collar of greater diameter than the said friction-pin, so that it cannot be drawn through the slot in theventshutter until the latter is completely home in its place, and the enlarged part of the slot is directly in line with the collar of the friction-pin, so that premature firing before the chandler of the gun is perfectly closed is rendered impossible.

The friction-primer consists of a short and strong cartridge-case, containing a frictionpin passing through an orifice in the'base of.

the said case, the end of the said friction-pin inside the primer-case being enlarged, and the rear part or shoulder of the enlargement made conical and adapted to fit into and close a corresponding recess formed in the base of the said primer-case when the friction-pin is drawn back. The surface of the enlarged part of the friction-pin is roughened, and is surrounded by ordinary detonating material in the usual manner, to fire the charge of meal powder in the body of the primer-case. The friction-pin is held inits proper position by a small pin or rivet passing t-hroughthe side. of the base of the primer, and engaging in a small recess formed in the side of the frictionpin. On the friction-pin being drawn back to fire the primer the rivet is sheared oh, the conical part ofthe friction-pin closes the orifice ii. the base of the primer caSe gas-tight, the pressure of'Lthe powder-gas on the end of the friction-pin also assisting, toforce the pin into its seating on the firing taking place. On

.the friction-pin, and close to the base of the At the extreme rear. end of the friction-pin an eye is formed to receive the hook of the firing- ]anyard. This friction-primer may be em ployed for firing other descriptionsfof guns as well'as those described in my patent.

To permit the firing-primer to beextracted from the vent in case of misfire,,Iform one part of the upper side. of the curved guide which directs the vent-shutter movable, but held in position by a guide-plate and springeatch. I

When it is desired to'extract the primer, the spri ng-catch of the movable part is pressed down, and the movable piccedi-awnback by one hand of the operator. The vent-shutter is then drawn back sharply by the other hand, by which the firing-primer is uncovered and then extracted from the vent withoutthe necessity for the breech-screw being moved. A fresh primer can be then inserted, the vent shutter closed, and the sliding piece of the guide returned into its place and secured to the gun by the spring-catch.

The improvement in the obturator consists in fitting a cylindrical metalring int-o recess in the rear of the powder-chamber, the interior diameter of the ring being less than the diameter of the powder-chamber, but suiiieiently large for the projectile and cartridge to be passed through it easily. The rear end of the exterior of the ring is of greater diameter than the forward end, the two exterior diameters being connected by a conical or conoidal surface. The recess which receives the ring has a corresponding conical or eonoidal surface, against which the ring is forced up by the breech screw. The cylindrical part of. the recess has one or more grooves cut in its surface, so as to reduce th bearing-surface of the metal of the gun on the ring. As the surface of the forward or muzzle end of the ring is freely exposedto the pressure of the gas, While the rear end is not so exposed, the tendency of the gas-pressure will be to force the ring back upon the breeeh sercw. The face of the breech-screw may have a flat surface to bear against a corresponding flat surface on the rear of the gas-ring; but I prefer to secure to the face of the breech a plate of metal, preferably of tempered steel, presenting a concentrio corrugated surface to thepowder-charge,

and having a conically-shaped periphery fitting into a conical seating formed in the rear end ofthe gas'ring. .Onthe charge being fired, the gas pressure slightly flattens the corrugated plate, by whichthe periphery of the plate is expandedltightly into the conical seating in the gas-ring, the gas-ring being at the same time pressed backward into the cor-' rugated plate, and also expandedtightly into its seating in the gun by thesaid gas-pressure.

The breech mechanism hereinbeforede scribed, with Vent-shutter complete," may be actuated inlarge guns by a pinion gearing into' awheel fixed on the breech-s crew,as described in Patent No. 258,116, dated May 16, 1882; but to use fluid-pressure with this mechanism 1;. employ only one cylinder, and ajpiston con nected with a rack-gearing, with a wheel, 'xed on the breech screw, and on the said -reecl1- screw I affix also a lever having au-arm'which carrieslthe vent shutter and thepin by which the sliding carriage -is moved. By these means the breech-screw, the vent-shutter, the

. extractor, and the sliding carriage are actuated by one movement of the lover of the coclror valve which admits the fluid-pressure to the cylinder. p

In the d1'awings,.,Figui.'e l is an elevation of the rear end ofthe breech of the gun when ready for firing.

transverse Section at Y Z of Fig. 5.

. extractor h.

the obturator.

electric primers.

closed, as when ready for firing. Fig. 2 is the same, but with the breech opened ready for the gun to be loaded. Fig. 3 isan elevation of the right-hand side of the breech of the gun, and Fig. 4 is an elevation of the lefthand side of the same. Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinal section of the breech closed as Fig. 6 is a vertical Fig. 7 is asection of the sliding piece 1', showing the construction on a larger scale. Fig. 7",7", and 7 are respectively an under side view and the end views,on an enlarged scale, of the sliding piece 0" and catch 8, Fig. 7" being an end View ofthe right side of the gun, and Fig. 7" an end new at its left side.

spring for actuating the catch. Fig. 8 is an elevation on an enlarged scale-of the rear end of the breech-screw, the sliding shutter being removed showing the arrangement of the Fig. 8 is a slight-modification of Fig. 8. Figs. 9, 9", and 9" are respectively an elevation, section and end views showing the arrangement of the friction-primer. Figs. 10 and 10 are enlarged views of parts of Figs. 1 and 2 and adjacent parts, and showing the guard, catch-slide, guide, and extractorlever. Figs. 10", 10, and 10" are respectively rear face front face, and partial sectional views, enlarged, of the sliding vent-shutterl).

Figs. 1 ll, 12, and 13 are details of theextractor-gear, as shown applied in Fig. 8. Fig. 11' shows a desirable form of extractor-for a frictiou-primer. Fig. 14- 'is a vertical longitudinal section showing the arrangement of Fig. 15 shows an elevation of the breech of a gun fittedwith geanoperating mechanism. Fig-16 is an enlarged section of partof the breech of the gun showing the connection of the vent-shutter with the extractor.

In Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the firing apparatus shown is that adapted to use friction on In these figures A is the body of the gun. Bis the sliding carriage. G is the breech-screw. D is the vent-shutter. EF/ is the loading-tray, forming partof the sliding carriage. There are two studs or stops .on the loading-tray to limit the travel of the' sliding carriage and loading-tray, as may be required. When both stops remain in their place, the position of the loading-tray, when the breech is open, is as shown in Fig. 2, but when the left-hand stop is removedthebreechscrew is permitted to go farther to the left, and the part E of the loading-tray is brought in line with the powder-chamber, the face of breech-screw being forced over to the left of the gun, soil-tat the obturator is'fre'ely exposed. F and F are the tie-pieces or keys for preventing the rear part of the carriageway from opening when the gun is fired. G is the lever for actuating the breech-screw and mechanism. an. is the guide for the pin 1; in the end of the lever. gis abolt screwed into the brecchscrcw through which the axial vent is s designates the catch to lock the piece to the gun, and e the l'ornled. n is the curved (.eccnlric-guide for the pin (see Fig. 5) for actuating the ventshrn'ter I), and r is the movable partof the guide for permitting the opening of the vent by hand. 1" is a guard screwed to the gun immediately above the movable part or slide r, to keep the same in position. The ventshutter D is provided with a toe-piece, as in Figs. 5 and 16, or with aspring-catch, d, as in Figs. 10" and 10', which operates the short arm h of the extractor-lever h. The extractor q is pivoted upon the lower and longer arm, h", of the extractor-lever. \Vhen the short arm of the lever is operated by the toe-piece or catch, the long arm will recede from the gun, carrying the extractor with it, as also the firing'primeru J is a spring-catch to 100k the lever G to the gun, but this spring-catch is not claimed as of my invention.

In Figs? to 9",inclusive,Pis the metal case. Q is the friction-pin. tis the safety-collar on the friction-pin, and n isa small stud or rivet which holds the friction-pin in its place, but

which sheared off on the firinglanyard being pulled.

The mechanism shown in Figs.8, 11, 12, 13 is applicable to friction-primer breech mechanism.

A in Fig.14 is the metal of the gun. B is a part of the sliding carriage. G is a part of the breech-screw. g is the vent-bolt which secures the concentric corrugated valve-face Z to the breech-screw, and Y is the obturating ring fitting into a recess in the roar of the powder-chamber.

Referring to Fig.1,it may be here remarkedthat other forms of breech mechanism may be used instead the crank G-as, for instance, inter-meshing gears or rack and gear.

In Fig. 15. is shown an elevation of the breech 'of a gun fitted'wit-h a pinion which is carried by a bracket secured to the sliding carriage, and which gears into a wheel fixed on the breech-screw. It is applicable to those large guns in which a certain multiplication of power is required to work the breech mechanism. In this figure, A is the gun; B, theslid ing carriage; C, the breech-screw. G is the Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isl 1. The combination, with a gun having a horizontal slideway extending transversely to the bore about one caliber from the extreme rear end of the brecclrof the gun, the said slideway being of reduced size at one side of the gun and provided upon its upper and lower sides with grooves, of a sliding carriage having one end of a reduced size to fit into the said slideway, into which grooves keys are fit ted, the said carriage iavi-ng a loading-tray at its reduced end, and a breech-screw fitting into said carriage, the said breech-screw gearing also in its rear part into the metal of the gun in the rear ofthe slideway,the said breechscrew being adapted to close the powder-chamber, all substantially asset forth.

2. The combination, with a gun having a breech-screw and having a primer-chamber or vent in said breech-screw, of asliding shutter' which the firing-pin of a friction-primer may pass, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a gun having a breech-screw with a primer-chamber therein, a sliding shutter for said primer-chambenand an eccentric guide for such shutter, of a lever with a long and a short arm at right angles to each other, the lever-being over the primes chamber or vent, the long arm of which lever forms part of the primer-chamber, andby the movement of which the primer is extracted when the short arm of the lever is acted on by a catch in the said shutter, substantially as described.

4. The combination, with the vent-shutter, of the eccentric guide for actuating the pin on. such shutter,- of a slide forming av portion of the said. guide and having aspring-catch, s, a guard screwed to thegun'immediately above the slide, said catch and guard serving to hold the said slide in position, but permitting the said slide to be moved so as to open the guide to allow the vent-shutter to be drawn back by hand and uncover the vent and extractthe primer in case of misfire,substant-ially as described.

5. The combination, with a metal gas-ring fitting in the rear end of the powder-chamber and adapted to be forced backward by the pressure of the gas and ha ing a conicallyshaped seating at its rear end, of a breechscrew having a corrugated metal face and havery to fit into said seating in the metal gasring, substantially as described.

ing a corresponding comically-shaped p'eriph- 

